Bini Dahal

YouTube is like a haven for me and it is the same for many others as well. It hosts millions and millions of good and educative videos. But lately, the number of trash contents has been on a rise in this site. Have you ever scrolled through the trending page of a Nepali YouTube? I am not bashing anyone but most of the contents there are just useless.
The so-called reporters there are always looking around for someone or something that creates controversy. And not surprising enough, there are many who are ready to say anything that they want to, just to gain public attention. Does the story of an attention-seeking fortune teller or about some Aghori Babas need our attention?
Making money by uploading YouTube videos has become very popular among people. So, more and more people are trying to create contents that can grab the attention of the viewers. Besides the subject on which the video is being made, a special attention is given to the topic and the thumbnail. These two sections are made more interesting in order to tempt the audience. First and foremost the YouTubers create an issue out of a person or a group. Once the issue turns into a controversy, they stretch out the story by taking second and third person perspective.
Human life is full of struggles. We tend to face challenges in every part of our life. But the only difference is that some suffer more. But YouTube content makers tend to shift very little of their focus upon true victims and mostly prioritise exaggerated and fake stories. Sadly, the same kind of stories sells like hotdogs among people.
The reason for this kind of scenario is an increasing rate of unemployment among highly educated people. So, taking matter in their own hands, more and more youngsters are opening channels on YouTube. Since talk shows and interviews are exciting, Nepali media has always given special priority to them. When the custom of making videos out of interviews first came, the reporters were very respectful and asked only proper questions.
Now the content making industry in Nepal is going downhill. The questions are very direct and sometimes reporters cross their limit by asking baseless questions that can affect any person’s privacy and safety. What do we get by watching such videos? Obviously, we are wasting our valuable time and at the same time learning something we should not be learning.
The social media network has grown to such an extent that any video uploaded can receive millions of views in a short period of time. It can act as a very strong tool to achieve prosperity in a developing country like Nepal. The government is planning to launch the Visit Nepal Year 2020 (VNY 2020) with an aim to welcome two million tourists into the country. A short period of time remains for the national tourism event to start. At a time like this, shouldn’t the private media be making promotional videos to highlight the country’s tourist destinations rather than focusing on someone’s private matters? Nepali media in YouTube must review their priorities.